Heat exchanger



Dec. 23, 1952 p, V|CARD 2,622,857

HEAT EXCHANGER Filed March "'7 1950 Patented Dec. 23, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HEAT EXCHAN GER Pierre Georges Vicard, Lyon, France Application March 7, 1950, Serial No. 148,154 In France September 10, 1948 3 Claims. 1

The present invention relates to a heat exchanger ior exchanging heat between the flows of a liquid and a gaseous fluid. v

It is an object of the present invention to provide a heat exchanger which is capable of operating as an indirect exchanger or as a direct and indirect exchanger.

A heat exchanger according to the present invention comprises a conduit carrying the fiow of the gaseous fluid, the conduit having an aperture, a vertical outer tube arranged in the conduit across the fiow of the gaseous fluid and having an open lower end communicating with the aperture of the conduit, an inner tube arranged coaxially within the outer tube and having open upper and lower ends, a member arranged below the conduit and carrying the inner tube, the member having an opening communicating with the lower end of the inner tube, the lower end of the inner tube being arranged below the open lower end of the outer tube, the upper end of the inner tube being spaced apart from, and being lower than, the upper end of the outer tube, the tube forming an annular space therebetween, adjustable means for delivering liquid to the space between the tubes near the lower ends thereof so that the liquid flows upwards through the space between the tubes and at least partly enters the inner tube through the open upper end thereof, adjustable means connected to the member carrying the inner tube for draining the liquid therefrom, a valve arranged in the outer tube near the upper end thereof, the valve being opened by the liquid if the rate of flow thereof exceeds the capacity of the draining means, and a helical fin arranged on the outside of the outer tube and having means for forcing the liquid escaping through the valve to flow down along the upper and lower surfaces of the fin simultaneously, whereby according to the adjustment of the adjustable means the heat exchanger-operates as an indirect exchanger or as a direct and indirect heat exchanger.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a schematic view of a heat exchanger according to the invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of the device shown in Fig. 1;

Figs. 3 and 4 show, on a larger scale, respectively, a side elevation and a plan view or a part of the device shown in Fig. l.

The heat exchanger comprises two elements each including a vertical outer tube a and an inner tube a The former is fitted outwardly with a helical fin b, generated by a horizontal line and extending over the entire length of the tube a. The uppermost half-turn b of the fin b is bent back at b Fig. 3, so as to merge into the lower surface of the fin b.

Holes b bored at regular intervals establish a communication between the upper and lower sides of the fin b. The tube a, open at both ends, is secured in an airtight manner by its basis to the bottom of a pan 0, its inner side communicates with the inlet duct 11, the flow through which is regulated by a tap e. A discharge tube f ensures the emptying of the pan 0.

The top of the inner tube a opens at a lower level than the top of the tube a. It communicates by its lower opening with a chamber formed in a member g, the flow through which is regulated by a faucet h.

A flap-valve 2', closing by its own weight, is fitted at the upper end of the tube a, above the upper opening of the tube a In Fig. 2, the flap-valve 2' is shown open on the left-side element, and in its closed position on the right side element.

The groups of elements described above are housed in a conduit a through which the gaseous fluids flow in the direction shown by the arrows 7c and in which the exchange of temperature and moisture takes place.

By the bending back of the first half-turn b of the helical fin b at the top of the tube a is accomplished, that the liquid passing through the overflow valve 1' is divided into two liquid sheets flowing downward, respectively, on the upper and lower side of the helical fin b.

It is easily seen that, through the combined operation of the inlet faucet e and the outlet tap 71., either an indirect operation of the heat exchanger is achieved, or a direct and indirect operation in the required proportion, so that humid, dry, or medium dry air may be imparted to the air fiowing through the conduit 7' in the direction shown by the arrow It.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A heat exchanger for exchanging heat between the flows of a liquid and a gaseous fluid, comprising in combination, a conduit carrying the fiow of the gaseous fluid, said conduit having an aperture; a vertical outer tube arranged in said conduit across the flow of the gaseous fluid .3 and having an open lower end communicating with said aperture of said conduit; an inner tube arranged coaxially within said outer tube and having open upper and lower ends; a member arranged below said conduit and carrying said inner tube, said member having an opening communicating with said lower end of said inner tube, said lower end of said inner tube being arranged below said open lower end of said outer tube, said upper end of said inner tube being spaced apart from, and being lower than, the upper end of said outer tube, said tubes forming an annular space therebetween; adjustable means for delivering liquid to the space between said tubes near the lower ends thereof so that the liquid flows upwards through the space between said tubes and at least partly enters said inner tube through said open upper end: thereof; adjustable means connected to said member carrying said inner tube for draining the liquid therefrom; a valve. arranged in outer tube near said upper end thereof, said valve being opened by the liquid if the rate of flow thereof exceeds thecapacity of said draining means; and a helical fin arranged on the outside of said outer tube and having means for forcing the liquid escaping through said valve to flow down along the upper and lower surfaces of said fin simul taneously, whereby according to the adjustment of said adjustable means the heat exchanger operates as an indirect exchanger or as a direct and. indirect heat exchanger.

2. A. heat exchanger for exchanging heat between. the flows of a liquid and a gaseous fluid, comprising in combination, a conduit carrying the flow of. the gaseous fluid, said conduit having an aperture; a vertical outer tube arranged in said conduit across the iiow of the gaseous fluid and having an open lower end communicating with said aperture of said conduit; an inner tube arranged coaxially within said outer tube and having open upper and lower ends; a member arranged below said conduit and carrying said inner tube, said member having an. opening oommunicating with said lower end of said inner tube,

said lower end of said inner tube being arranged below said open lower end of said outer tube, said upper end of said inner tube being spaced apart from, and being lower than, the upper end of said outer tube, said tubes forming an annular space therebetween; adjustable means for delivering liquid to the space between said tubes near the lower ends thereof so that the liquid fiows upwardsv through the space between said tubes and at least partly enters said inner tube through said open upper end thereof; adjustable means connected to said member carrying said inner tube for draining the liquid therefrom; a valve arranged in said outer tube near said upper end thereof, said valve being opened by the liquid if the rate of flow thereof exceeds the capacity of said draining means; and a helical fin arrangedton. the outside of said outer tube and having an uppermost half -turn merging into the lower surface of said fin forcing the liquid escaping through said valve to flow down along .the upper and. lower surfaces 01 said fin simultaneously, whereby, according to the adjustment of said adjustable means the heat exchanger operates as an indirect exchanger or as a direct and indirect heat exchanger.

3. A heat exchanger as in claim 2, said fin having holes establishing communications of the upper and lower sides thereof.

PIERRE GEORGES VICARD;

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Great Britain Mar. 1, 1943 

